Keyboard for typewriting machines, typesetting machines, or the like



Dec. 31, 1929. w. scHAFFER 1,742,152

YPEWRITING MACHINES, FYI?SETTING MACHINES, OR THE LIKE KEYBOARD FOR T Filed May 4, 1926 5 sheets sheet 1 OQO O Dec. 31, 1929. w. scHAFFER 1,742,152

TYPESETTING MACHINES, OR THE LIKE Filed May 4, 192a KEYBOARD FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES,

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 31, 1929. 1,742,152

KEYBOARD FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES, TYPESETTING MACHINES, OR THE LIKE w. scHAFFER Filed May 4, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WERNER SCI-IAFFER, OF LAUPEN, NEAR BERN, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR TO CHOCOLA'I TOBLER HOLDING GO. AK'IIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF SCI-IAFFHAUSEN, SWITZERLAND.

A FIRM KEYBOARD FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES, TYPESETTING MACHINES, OR THE LIKE Application filed May 4, 1926, Serial No. 106,667, and in Germany May 6, 1925.

This invention relates to a keyboard for type-writing machines, type-setting machines and the like and consists more particularly in the fact that the rods or the like equipped with a series of projections, notches or'the like and movable in their longitudinal direction upon a key being struck, and the trans verse rails or the like arranged transversely tothe rods and capable of being engaged by the projections, are adjustable relatively to one another in such a way that the rods can exert a moving action upon different trans verse rails. On the rods moved when striking a key are preferably provided more projcctions, notches or the like than are intended in the individual case for acting upon transverse rails or the like. The shifting of the rods movable in their longitudinal direction upon a key being struck to the cross rails or the like is preferably eiiected for the purpose of bringing different founts of type that are mutually exchangeable at any time in a single machine into use, so that in this way, in one and the same line, a plurality of founts of type may appear side by side. The changing over from one fount to another is preferably effected in such a way that at the same time the action upon the typographical pointcounter is also correspondingly shaped that this also does not need to be attended to by the writer but positively assigns the correct point number automatically. The shifting of the transverse rails or the like may for example be effected collectively, advantageously by the aid of one or more eccentries, which are rotated from a transposing key. These eccentrics preferably receive their rotation by the aid 0f atoothed wheel each, which is rotated by a rack, which is connected with the transposing lever.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which T Figure 1 shows a section through a keyboard according to the invention on the line A-B in Figure 3;

Figure 2 a similar section on the line C-D in Figure 3;

Figure 3 a plan of a part of a keyboard according to the invention; and

rails (Z are rotatably and slidably arranged by the aid of pins f in apertures (Z in the side members 9 of a frame. h are longitudinal rails, which engage in slots in the upper and lower transverse rails d respectively. These longitudinal rails h are connected with eccentrics 1', which are each arranged on a shaft is. On the shafts 7c are mounted toothed wheels m, which mesh with racks it. These racks n are subject to the action of a doublearmed lever 0, which is adjustable into various positions. By this lever 0, therefore, the eccentrics 2' can be rotated by the aid of the toothed wheels in, as a result of which also the rails 17b in Figure a can be shifted further to the right or left. The rails h engage in the transverse rails 63. The upper transverse rails (Z in Figure 4 are provided with different notches go, so that the upper transverse rail d is only engaged when the central key rod 6 is struck. In the case of a movement of the upper rails d towards the right, only the right-hand key rod b would act upon the transverse rail (5, and upon the rail 72, moving towards the left only the left-hand key rod 6 would act upon the rail (Z. In this manner of course a whole series of combinations are possible. The same thing that has been done in the case or" the upper rail d might of course also take place in the case of the lower rail d. In general the key rods 6 will present a number of projections a greater than the number of transverse rails d that have to come into action upon a key being struck.

The arrangement according to the invention may for example be employed for the adjustment of magazines and type bars of the applicants line-printing typewriter, for the purpose of lodging in the magazines 2. plurality of founts of type, for example simple roman, half-bold antique and italic antique. In the case of these machines, as is known, there are arranged, side by side, magazines 8 with type bars, the writing position of which is registered, upon a key a being struck, by positioning stops or the like, and produced, after completion of the key-actuation of a line, by mechanical means 9", 2?, see Fig. 5. These magazines contain a plurality of different sets of type, so the stop of the character in question, upon the fount being changed, must result in an adjustment of the magazines, or of the type bars, or both, other than the adjustment when employing the first fount. This is necessary owing to the fact that many letters in the ordinary fount of type have a breadth different from what they have in the italic or half-bold fount. Thus it happens that for the same letter, in the one fount a narrower type bar must be released and in the other fount a broader type bar. Owing to the distribution of the letters of entirely different founts of type it may furthermore happen that the same letter is mounted in one fount at the front end of one type bar and in the case of the other fount more towards the middle or at the other end of another type bar. Hence it is necessary, from one and the same key, the position of which in the keyboard is determined by the arrangement according to the desi n of the international standard keyboard, in the case of the narrow type bar, to cause the magazine in question to be for example only slightly raised, whereas in the case of the wider type bar it is raised very high by the lever r, while the rammer t is to be moved at one time a long distance and at another time not so far. In the case of such changes of fount it is important for example that a capital letter, the capital I of the simple roman for example, must be arranged upon a narrower type bar than the capital I of the italic antique or only the capital I of the gothic. For the typist, however, upon each fount being adjusted, exactly the same key-operation has to be effected as in the case of ordinary roman. Furthermore the arranging of the keys does not have to be changed, but the international standard ieyboard is retained.

The contrivance according to the invention gives the possibility, by appropriate shaping of the notches, of keeping the writing exactly in agreement, irrespectively of what fount of type is to be written at the moment. It is merely necessary for the typist to bring the transposing lever to the desired fount and thereby to shift the rails (Z in the frame 9 as above described. The varying heights of lift of the magazines, and also, it may be, the varying distances to which the type bars are moved out from the magazines, is then effected in the new of the 8rd November 1925.

fount just as automatically as was previously the case.

The apparatus according to the invention may however also be employed for example for setting and casting machines.

The number of different founts is by no means limited to three but may be increased at will.

The transverse rails cl might of course also e arranged in a continuous frame, which is displaceable in relation to the rods 6. Furthermore the rods 6 might also be shifted in relation to the transverse rails 65, Without altering the invention. The latter displacement is however hardly to be recommended, as the transmission from the keys to the rods Z) would then be more difficult to arrange.

Now by the change in the combination of the engaging longitudinal and transverse members it is also possible to employ in a simple manner for different founts of type the typographical point-counter a, that is to say, the same counting mechanism for the breadth values of the individual types of the line. Such a counting mechanism is illustrated for example in Patent Nr. 1,560,339 In this case the rods moved by the keys act by means of projections upon rockable members, which may be constructed as transverse rails, which in their turn act upon projections on the longi tudinally displaceable members adjusting the counting mechanism. If for these transverse rails also the construction is designed in the manner indicated for the transverse rails (Z of the keyboard described above. it is clear that by a lateral displacement, here again the result can be attained that the same key rod can be brought into engagement with different transverse rails, so that according to the fount of type adjusted, upon the same key being struck, the counting mechanism can be fed forward by a larger or smaller amount.

In Fig. the transverse rails (Z of the counting mechanism act upon an abutment e of a rod to, another abutment a: of which rod acts by means of a bell crank y upon a rod 2 of the typographical point counter a. The

rails (Z are moved in the same manner as the rails (Z. Thus also the counter point number is automatically and accurately adapted to the fountof the type.

I claim 1- 1. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of longitudinally movable parts, a movable member arranged transversely to the said parts, and means for changing the position of the said member relatively to the said parts, the said member being adapted to be actuated in its different positions relatively to the said parts by different ones of the said parts.

2. In a machine of the character described, a longitudinally movable part, a plurality of movable members arranged transversely to the said part, .and means for changing the position of the said members relatively to the said part, the said part being adapted to act in the diilerent positions of the said members upon .dilierent ones of the said members.

3. In a machine according to claim 1, a keyboard and means for moving a said part in accordance With the movement of a key of the said keyboard.

4. In a machine according to claim 2, a keyboard and means for moving the said part in accordance with the movement of a key of the said keyboard.

5. In a machine according to claim 1, means for selecting types adaptedto be actuated according to the movements of the said member.

6. In a machine according to claim 2, means for selecting types adapted to be actuated according to the movements of the said members.

7. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of longitudinally movable parts, a plurality of movable members transversely arranged to the said parts, and means for changing the position of the said members relatively to the said parts, a plurality of the said members being adapted to engage in their different positions relatively to the said parts different ones of the said parts.

8. In a machine according to claim 7, means for simultaneously moving a plurality or the said members in their longitudinal direction relatively to the said parts.

9. In a machine according to claim 7, means for simultaneously moving the total oi the said members in their longitudinal direction relatively to the said parts.

In a machine of the character de 10. scribed, a plurality of longitudinally movable rods, a plurality of tilting-rails arranged transversely to the said rodsand adaptedto be engaged by the rods and means for collec tively moving the said rails in their longitudinal directioninto different positions relatively tothe said rods, the tilting rails being adapted to be engaged in their difl-erent positions by different ones of the said rods.

11. In a machine as claimed in claim 10 a carrier for supporting the said tilting rails, the said rails being rotatably and in their longitudinal direction slidably mounted in the said carrier.

'12. In a machine oi the character described, a plurality of longitudinally movable rods, a plurality of tilting-rails arranged transversely With respect to the said rods and adapted to be engaged by the said rods, a carrier for supporting the said tilting rails, the rails being rotatably and in their longitudinal direction slidably mounted in the said carrier, a device adapted to engage the said rails, and means .for moving the said device so as to move therails in their longitudinal direction, the rails being adapted to be engaged. in their dillerent positions by different ones of the rods.

. 13. In a machine of the character described a plurality of longitudinally movable rods, a plurality of tilting-rails arranged transversely to thesaid rods and pted to be engaged by the said rods, a carrier for supporting the said rails, the rails being rotatably and slidably mounted in the said carrier,in each said rail a slot, a bar arranged transversely to the said rails and entering the said slots and means for moving the bar so as to move the rails in their longitudinal direction into different positions, the railsbeing in their different positions adapted to be en gaged by different ones of the rods.

l l. In a machine of the character described as claimed in claim 12- the moving means consisting in aneocentric device.

@15. In a machine of the character described a plurality of longitudinally movable rods, a plurality of tilting-rails arranged transverse- 1y to the said rods and adapted to be engaged by the said rods, a carrier for supporting the said rails, the rails being rotatably and slid ahlv mounted in the said carrier, in each said rail a slot, a bar arranged transversely to the said rails and entering the said slots and an eccentric-device adapted to move the bar so as to move .the rails in their longitudinal direction into dilierent positions, the rails being adapted to be engaged intheir different positions by different ones of the rods.

16. In a machine of the ch racter described as claimed in claim 15 an oblong hole in the saidbar adapted to be entered by the said ec-.

centric device.

.17. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of longitudinally movable parts, a plurality of movable members arranged transversely to the said parts a device for moving the said members collectively in the direction of their longitudinal axis into ditlerent positions relatively to the said parts, the parts being adapted to engage in their different positions With different ones of the members, a handle, adapted to be brought into ditlerent positions and means for transmitting the movement of the handle to the said device.

18. In a machine of the character described a plurality of longitudinally movable rods, a plurality of tilting-rails arranged transverse ly to the said rods and adapted to be engaged by the said rods, a carrier for supporting the said rails, the rails being rotatably and slid ably mounted in the said carrier, in each said rail a slot, a bar arranged transversely to the said rails and entering the said slots, an eccentric device for moving the said bar so as to shift the rails in their longitudinal direction a handle adapted to be swung into difierent positions, a racl; adapted to be moved to and fro by means of the handle and a pinion in the eccentric device meshing with the said rack, the tilting rails being in their different positions adapted to be engaged by different ones of the rods.

19. In a machine of the character described as claimed in claim 18 the rack being slidably mounted in one side wall of the carrier.

20. In a machine of the character described a plurality of longitudinally movable rods, a plurality of tilting-rails arranged transverse- 1y to the said rods and adapted to be engaged by the said rods, a carrier for supporting the said rails, the rails being rotatably and slidably mounted in the said carrier, in each said rail a slot, a bar arranged transversely to the said rails and entering the said slots, a plurality of eccentric devices each adapted to move the bar in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tilting rails, a handle adapted to be swung into different positions, a rack adapted to be moved to and fro by means of the handle, and a pinion in each eccentric device meshing with the said rack.

21. In a machine of the character described a plurality of longitudinally movable rods,

a plurality of engaging means on each said rod, a plurality of tilting-rails arranged transversely to the said rods and adapted to be engaged by the said engaging-means of the said rods, openings in the said rails adapted to be entered by the said engaging-means and means for changing the relative position of the rails with respect to the rods so as to bring certain openings of certain tilting rails out of register with the engaging means of certain rods and certain other openings of the tilting rails into register with the engaging means of certain other rods.

22. In a machine of the character described a plurality of longitudinally movable rods, a plurality of projections on each said rod, a plurality of tilting-rails arranged transversely to the said rods and adapted to be engaged by the said projections of the said rods, openings in the said rails adapted to be entered by the said projections and means for collectively shifting the tilting-rails in their lon gitudinal direction so as to bring certain openings of certain tilting rails out of register with the engaging means of certain rods and certain other openings of the tilting rails into register with the projections of certain other rods.

23. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of longitudinally movable rods, a plurality of engaging means on each said rod and arranged on opposite sides of each rod, two series of tilting rails arranged transversely to the said rods and at opposite sides of the rods, the tilting rails being adapted to be engaged by the said engaging means of the rods, a plurality of openings in each said rail adapted to be entered by the said engaging means and means for changing the relative position of the rails with respect to the rods so as to bring certain openings of certain tilting rails out of register with the engaging means of certain rods and certain other openings of the tilting rails into register with the engaging means of certain other rods.

24. In a line by line type-writing machine, movable magazines, means for bringing the magazines into certain positions, movable type-carriers in the magazines, the type-carriers in each magazine forming a plurality of complete sets of types of different founts, means for moving the type-carriers out of the magazines so as to form a line, a first device for registering the position of the magazines, a second device for registering the printing position of the type-carriers, a plurality of longitudinally movable members, keys for moving the said members, a first series of movable parts arranged transversely to the said members at one side thereof and adapted to control the said first registering device, a second series of similar parts arranged at the opposite side of the members and adapted to control the said second registeriiig device, the said members being adapted to engage the said parts, and a fount-selecting device adapted to change the position of the said members relatively to the said parts, the said parts being adapted to be engaged in different positions with respect to the said members by different ones of the said members.

25. In a key-controlled machine of the character described with a plurality of complete sets of types of different founts and means for selecting the types; a single typographical point-counter for all the founts and means for actuating the typographical pointcounter adapted to move according to the means for selecting the types.

26. In a key-controlled machine of the character described, ,a plurality of complete sets of type of different founts, a plurality of key-controlled longitudinally movable parts for moving said types, a movable member for selecting one of the founts and being arranged transversely to the said parts, and means for changing the position of the said member relatively to the said parts, the said member being adapted to be actuated in its different positions relatively to the said parts by different ones of the said parts.

27. In a key-controlled. machine of the character described, a plurality of complete sets of types of different founts, a key-controlled longitudinally movable part for moving said types, a plurality of movable members for selecting one of said founts and being arranged transversely to the said part, and means for changing the position of the said members relatively to the said part, the said part being adapted to act in the different positions of the said members upon different ones of the said members.

28. In a key-controlled machine of the character described, a plurality of complete sets of type of different founts, a plurality of key-controlled longitudinally movable parts for moving said types, a movable member for selecting one of the founts and being arranged transversely to the said parts, means for changing the position of the said member relatively to the said parts, the said member being adapted to be actuated in its different positions relatively to the said parts by different ones of the said parts, a point counter, and controlling means for the point counter said member being adapted to change said controlling means When selecting another fount. V

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WERNER soHAFFER. 

